Part 12 (1/2)

”Humph! Do you think he'd show himself?” asked Sam. ”Not much! He'd hide where you couldn't find him. Now he and old Crabtree know we are around they'll take good care not to get caught.”

”We might burn down the old mill!” murmured Tom. ”It would serve 'em right, for all their meanness.”

”Let it go,” was d.i.c.k's advice. ”Some day we'll catch both of them red-handed at something, and then we can give 'em what's coming to 'em.”

The matter was talked over with John Snubble and the aviator, and the farmer said he would keep on guard against Sobber and Crabtree and report to d.i.c.k if he found out anything unusual. Then the biplane was brought forth, and Captain Colby made an examination.

”All these breaks can easily be mended,” said the aviator. ”We'll go to work at once. Then I'll give the _Dartaway_ a little try-out, and if she runs as she should I'll take her back to your home.”

”Don't you want a pa.s.senger?” asked Sam and Tom in a breath.

”Why, do you want to go?”

”Sure!”

”I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I want to try the machine several times before I risk taking anybody up.”

The Snubble boys were delighted to think they could see the _Dartaway_ fly and they a.s.sisted the others in making the necessary repairs. For two hours all were very busy and then Captain Colby announced the biplane in as good a condition as before the wild flight.

”Now I'll give her a short try-out,” he said, and this was done. Up into the air mounted the _Dartaway_ as gracefully as a bird, and all of the boys clapped their hands in delight.

”By gum! beats the nation!” said one of the Snubble lads.

”It's grand! I'm going to save up for one!” added the other.

Around the field sailed Captain Colby and then made the figure eight three times. Then he came down near the spot from which he had started.

”Couldn't be better,” he declared. ”I could take her a hundred miles if I wished.”

”Wish I could go up,” said Sam wistfully.

”Your time will come pretty soon,” added the aviator. ”The flight to your home will be a good test.”

A little later the aviator arose again in the air, this time headed for Valley Brook farm. The boys were also ready and started off immediately in the automobile.

”Come again!” shouted the Snubble boys.

”We will,” answered d.i.c.k. ”Your field makes a dandy landing place.”

d.i.c.k ran the automobile and put on good speed all the way home. As they went along they watched the flight of the biplane, but soon the machine pa.s.sed from view.

”She certainly can sail!” cried Tom. ”Oh, d.i.c.k, we'll have to take her to Brill with us!”

”That's it!” cried Sam. ”What's the use of leaving her behind? We can sail after college hours.”

”Yes, and think how quickly we could get over to Hope Seminary,” went on Tom. The place he mentioned was a young ladies' boarding school located not many miles from Brill. Dora Stanhope went to Hope, and so did the two Laning girls.

”We'll see about it,” replied d.i.c.k, briefly. But the idea of taking the flying machine to Brill pleased him as much as it did his brothers.

When they got home they found that Captain Colby had already arrived. He and the _Dartaway_ were in the field back of the barn, and surrounding the aviator were all the members of the Rover household.